Twisting spindle



March 3, 1959 G. A. KHLER TwIsTING SPINDLE ZSheets-Sheet l Filed March28, 1955 @www IUU.

arch 3, 1959.3

G. A. KHLER TWISTING SPINDLE:

Filed March 28., 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 /NVENTP @www Unid Staes Peter 10,

TWISTIN G SPINDLE Gerhard A. Khler, Kaiserslautern, Germany, assignor toSchless Aktiengesellschaft, Dusseldorf0berkassel, Germany Y The presentinvention relates to spinning or twisting spindles and, moreparticularly, to coupling means for use in connection therewith. v

Spinning and twisting spindles, particularly those which are driven by adriving shaft throughta positive drive 'such as worm lwheel drive, screwdrive or spur gear drive, comprise a clutch by means of which thespindles may be` driven or may be drivinglyconnected to or disconnectedfrom the driving shaft. The heretofore known clutches used in connectionwith such spinning or twisting spindles act by positive connectionand/or frictional connection, for instance, while taking advantage ofthe centrifugal force of more or less heavy clutch members. Therefore,clutches of this type are relatively sensitive to torque. When large copweights have to be dealt with, the clutches must accordingly bedimensioned rather heavy and voluminous `in order to assure a safecarrying along of the loaded spindle. Inasmuch as the space availablefor arranging the clutch and driving elements for each spindle of aspinning or twisting machine is limited and cannot t be increasedwithout considerable changes in the entire construction of` the machine,it is an object of the present invention to provide a clutch forspinning or twisting spindles which will allow a reliable operation ofthe spindle, even when large cop `weights and greatlyvarying speeds areconcerned, l without considerable changes in `the: spinning machine. 'pt. f .i

`It is t another object of this invention to` .provide a spinning ortwisting spindle with clutch means which will make 'it possible to startoperation of the spinning or twisting spindle without shock. i A

It is still another object of this invention to provide' a'spinning ortwisting spindle with clutch means which requires relatively littlespace and which will automatically` be braked when thespinnin'g ortwisting spindle is drivingly disconnected by means of the clutchpertaining thereto from the drive shaft for said spinning or twistingspindle.

These and other objects and advantages of the inven-` tion will appearmore clearly from the following specification` in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig..1`represents a longitudinal section through the drive ofapositively driven spinningor twisting spindle, providedV with a clutch`according tothe invention, said clutch being in its disconnectedposition.

AFig..2` is a section similar to that of the clutch, in thrown inposition. l p

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic cross-,sectional view illustrating-theoperating mechanism for theclutch of Figs. 1 an d2,."` A t t Fig.;4represents a longitudinal section through: another embodiment of theinvention.

Fig 5l represents a longitudinal section through still i anotherembodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 showing pled to each other.

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o Patented Mar. 3, 195e General arrangement According to the presentinvention, the driving part for the spindle is connected with the drivenpart thereof through a clutch which when thrown in rst establishesfrictional driving `connection between said two parts and subsequently apositive driving connection between said parts. Such double actingclutch may be designed in various manner. Thus, for instance, suchclutch may comprise a sleeve which is drivingly connected with thedriving shaft while being displaceable in axial direction thereof. Saidsleeve cooperates with a driven part which may either be an element ofthe drive itself or of the yarn carrier. The sleeve and the driven partare provided with frictional surfaces and with means adapted to act aspositive coupling members. The said frictional surfaces and said lastmentioned coupling members are arranged relative to each other in such amanner that when the clutch is thrown in, rst frictional connectionbetween the elements to be coupled together will be eiected andsubsequently positive driving connectionwill be established between saidparts to be cou- When driving a plurality of spindles from a singledriving shaft, the clutch aggregate is expediently so designed that itcan be mounted as an entirety on the drive shaft by means of anadjustable end sleeve adapted to be ixedly connected. to the driveshaft. `To this end, for instance, the clutch sleeve may be mounted on aresiliently slotted sleeve adapted to` be clamped to the drive shaft andprovided with an abutment. The arrangement may be such that said clutchsleeve is axially movable toward a. drive wheel rotatably mounted on thesame, sleeve. The clutch members are `so designed that those surfacesthereof` which first engage each other when the clutch is thrown in formfrictional surfaces of `such width that the yarn carrier is carriedalongby frictional connection. Said frictional surfaces of both clutchmembers are followed by positive clutch members, for instance, `jawswhich are adapted to engage each other with peripheral play. If desired,the `arrangement `may also be such that the driven part'may be providedwith frictional and positive drive connecting elements and isdisplaceable toward av similarly designed clutch member which isrotatably connected to the driving part but is Vnot displaceableVthereon. p p The actuating member for the displaceable clutch part i mayalso operatively be connected with spindle braking means which, whendisconnecting the clutch, will exert a braking" force upon theyarncarrier so as quickly to stopthe same. l

Structural arrangement prise helical wheels 3 arranged to mesh with thehelical thread 5 at the lower end of the respective spindle 4 proper.

With this arrangement according to the invention, the drive wheel 3 `isfreely rotatably mounted on a sleeve 6 which serves as carrier for theentire clutch aggregate so'that the latter can be mounted as an entiretyupon lthe drive shaft 2. To this end the sleeve 6 is provided with slots7 which allow a certain spring. One

end of the sleeve 6 `is provided witha ange 8 which geraet/3 Serres asabutment at .one .end of .the Sleeve, whereas the abutment at the otherend Vof the sleeve is formed by an adjusting ring 9 by means of whichthe sleeve 6 can be clamped fast tothe driving'shaft 2. This arrangementallows a precise adjustment of all driving wheels 3 on the drive shaft 2with regard to the"individual spindles 4 (one spindle only being shown).

' The drive wheel 3 is xedly connected to a bearing bushing 10 by meansof la key 11 so that the wheel 3 cannot rotate on the bushing 10. Onthat side of Vthe drive wheel 3 which is remote from the adjusting ring9, there is arranged a clutch sleeve 12 which is nonrotatably connectedto the sleeve 6 by means of a key 13, but which is axially displaceableso that the clutch sleeve 12 will be carried along by shaft 2- whenthevlatter Y i's' rotated.v

Thclutch sleeve 12 is so designed and arranged that it is'out ofengagement'with the drive wheel 3 when its outer surface'ab'uts Ytheflange 8 of the sleeve v6.

`v In order lto bring about driving engagement Ybetween theclutch'sleeve `12 and the drive wheel 3 in the manner intended by thepresent invention, `the clutch sleeve 12 is according to the particularstructure shownY in the drawing designed hollow, whereas the drive wheelis provided with an Vextension extending in the direction toward saidVclutch sleeve 12. Said extension is adapted to enter a correspondingrecess in thel clutch sleeve -12 when 'the latterA is moved against thedrive`wheel 3. f

The extension of the drive wheel 3 is formed lby rings 14, '15. The ring14 represents a Spacer ring, whereas the ring 15 has itscircumferential'surface provided with aY friction liner or isafrictional slotted ring which by means of the key 11 similar to thewheel 3 is prevented from rotating about the bushing 10. The rings14,'15 are prevented from moving in axial direction by aspring ring(Seeger-ring) 16. The frictionall ring -15 is ex# pediently designedsimilar to a Seeger-inner ring which by means of differentcross-sections'makes Vitpos'sibl'e whenr being compressed to allowVuniform deformation and thereby uniform pressing pressures.

InV the frontpportion of vthe recess 17 of the clutch sleeve 112 thereisprovided an annular frictional surface 18. That portion of saidfrictional surface 18 which is adjacent the front edge of the sleeve 12has a smaller diameter than the subsequent portion of said annularfrictional surface or frictional member 18.' Said last mentioned portionof said frictional member 18 thus forms a'kind of annular groove asisclearly visible from Figs. 1 and 2. When the clutch is thrown in, thefrietional vring 15 can snap into'said Yannular"groove as is clearlyVshown in Fig. 2. f

When the clutch is thrown in by moving the clutch sleeve 12 in thedirection of the arrow d (Fig. 1), the parts 15' and 18 establishfrictional driving connection. The positive driving connection isestablished by means of clutch teeth or clutch jaws 19 at the inner faceof the sleeve 12 when said teeth or jaws 19 engage corresponding teethor jaws 20 on the drive wheel 3. This will occur when the clutch sleeve12 is moved in the direction of the arrow a until it abuts the drivewheel 3. The displacement or-shifting of ythe clutch sleeve 12 iseffected by means of a fork v22 engaging the'groove 4`21 of the clutchsleeve 12. The fork 22 is adapted to be actuated by means of a tiltablelever 24 which is connected to the fork 22 bymeans of a pin 24a andanadditional lever 23. The pin 24a is journalled in and guided b y asleeve`24b mounted in the spindle rail 1. The shiftable lever A 24 maybeprovided with an extension 2S extendingl .inthe vdirection .toward therespectiveA spinning or twisting spindle This extension 25 Vmaybedesigned as albraking member for frictionally engaging the spindle 4when the lever 24 is tilted forwithdrawing the clutch Sleeve 1,2fr0mmigliaia lliagsmentwth theslriYe-wheel 3Lifwhen @saving the clutchsleale .12 in the Question of the arrow b (Fig. 2).

From the above, itwill be ,evident that when throwing in the clutchsleeve 12, first the frictional surfaces or members 15 and 18 willfrictionally engage each other, whereby the drive wheel 3 will bequickly but smoothly brought up to the speed ofthe Hdrive shaft 2. Whilethe clutch sleeve 12 is being moved :further toward the drive shaft 3,the clutch teeth 19, -20 willengage each other without shock,particularly since they are arranged with peripheral play with `regardvrto each other, whereby a positive engagement and drive of the spindle4 to be driven is assured. After the clutch sleeve 12 ha-s beencompletely .thrown in, the friction ring 15 springs into the annulargroove 18a of the frictional member 18 ,connectedto the clutch sleeve12, thereby preventing acci dental disengagement `of the clutch parts(Fig. 2).

It' the spinnin'gor twisting spindle is to be stopped, the clutch sleeve12 is by means of the lever 24 shifted in .the d-ii'ectionlof the arrowb (Fig. 2) sothat first'the teeth 19 and 20 and only subsequently thefrictional surfaces 15 and 18 disengage each other. Simultaneously withthisv operation, the spindle 4 is braked bythe braking memberY 25. Y

Fig. 4 illustrates a spindle 4a which through the intervention of awhorl 26 and a belt is driven in force-locked manner. The whorl 26 isshrunk upon the spindle 4a so as to be ixedly connected thereto or mayin any other way be non-rotatably and non-displaceably mounted on saidspindle shaft 4a. Above the whorl there is a yarn carrier 27 or bobbinloosely placed -upon the spindle shaft 4a in such a manner that it canrotate about shaft 4a, if desired, by means'ofv anti-friction bearings(not shown in the drawing). This yarn carrier 27V is also adapted to bemoved in the direction of the double arrow c. The term yarn carrier. isto be understood generally to indicate any member or part of the spindlewhich receives the cop forming member such as aV yarn sleeve or bobbinor the yarn itself.

The whorl 26 is provided with a hub extending in the direction towardthe yarn carrier 27. This hub carries frictional power conveying means,namely, the friction ring 28, and also 'carries positive power conveyingmeans, namely, the teeth or jaws 29 which areV adapted to engagecorresponding teeth or jaws 31 provided on the yarn carrier 27. Theoperation of the arrangement according to Fig. 4 is similar to thatvdescribed in connection with Figs. l to 3. When the yarn carrier 27 ismoved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 4 by any convenientmeans, first the friction ring 28 frictionally engages the jaw-likeelements 31 sothat the yarn carrier is smoothly brought up to the speedof the driving whorl 26. When the yarn carrier 27 is moved furtherdownwardly, the teeth or jaws 29 engage the teeth or jaws 31 so that theyarn carrier 27 is now positively carried along by the whorl 26. Thefriction ring 28 then snaps into Ythe recess 30 and thus serves assafety holding devices for the clutch. In order to stop the yarncarrier, the yarn carrier is lifted, preferably by the same device bywhich it was lowered, whereupon the coupling or clutch parts will bedisengaged from eaeh other in a manner inverse to that described above.

If it is not desired or not permitted to move the yarn carrier in' axialdirection, .and there ,is no space in the drive for a clutch aggregate,the arrangement may b e modified as shown in Fig. 5.' In this instance,the spindle shaft 4b either driven positively by a screw wheel drive 2a,3a, 5a, or in a force-locked manner by a whorl 26a (indicated in dashlines), is provided with a splined sectionr32 on which Va sleeve 33 isaxially displaceable in the direction of the double arrow d. Above lsaidsleeve 33 there is arranged the yarn carrier 27 which is rotatable aboutthe spindle shaft'4b but is not vaxially movable thereon. The sleeve 33and yarn carrier 27v are proyidedwith frictional and positive engaging`elements 28 and 29', 31' respectively, which represent the couplingmembers rdesigned and operating in a manner It is, of course, understoodthat the present invention is not limited to the` particularconstructions shown in the drawings, but also comprises anymodiiications within the scope of the appended claims. Thus, instead ofthe clutch members described and illustrated,also any other type ofsuitable clutch members may be employed. For instance, conical clutchmembers, disc clutch members, or centrifugal friction clutches may takethe place` of the friction rings described above. It is merely essentialthat first a synchronizing of the speeds of the driving and driven partsis effected by frictional connection before the positive drivingconnection is effected by means of which it is assured that the drivenpart is driven by the driving part at the speed of the latter. l

I claim: t ,n 1. In combination `in a textile machine: a spindle adaptedto receive a yarn carrier, a drive shaft, first power conveying meansarranged for driving connection with said drive shaft, second powerconveying means carried by said spindle and arranged for drivingconnection with said first power conveying means', clutch membersinterposed between said drive shaft and said spindle for selectivelyestablishing driving connection between said spindle and said driveshaft, said clutch members respectively comprising friction surfacemeans arranged for frictional engagement withV each other` and alsorespectively including positive clutch means for positive coupling en'-gagement with each other,`said positive clutch means being arrangedduring a coupling process to become effective subsequent only to saidfriction surface means becoming effective, control means arranged forselectively bringing about movement of said clutch members toward eachother or away from each other for respectively effecting or interruptingcoupling engagement therebetween, and braking means associated with saidspindle and operable in response to a relative movement of said clutchmembers away from each other to exert a braking force on .said spindleto thereby stop the same.

2. In combination in a textile machine: a spindle, a yarn carriersupported by said spindle, a drive shaft, power conveying meansinterposed between said drive shaft and said spindle for conveyingdriving power to the latter, and coupling members respectively carriedby said spindle and said yarn carrier and movable selectively relativetoward each other or away from each other for respectively effecting orinterrupting a coupling engagement between said coupling members, saidcoupling members respectively comprising friction surface means arrangedfor frictional engagement with each other and also respectivelycomprising positive clutch means for positive coupling engagement witheach other, said positive clutch means being arranged during thecreation of said coupling engagement to become effective subsequent onlyto said friction surface means becoming effective.

3. In combination in a textile machine: a spindle, a yarn carriersupported by said spindle, means for preventing axial movement of saidyarn carrier on said spindle, a drive shaft, power conveying meansinterposed between said drive shaft and said spindle for conveyingdriving power to the latter, a first clutch member carried by said yarncarrier and comprising iirst frictional surface means and first positivecoupling means, a second clutch member rotatably connected to saidspindle but movable thereon in the axial direction of said spindle, saidsecond clutch member comprising second frictional surface means andsecond positive coupling means, said second clutch member being movabletoward said yarn carrier to bring about first coupling engagement ofsaid first and second frictional surface means and subsequently to bringabout coupling engagement between` said rst and second positive couplingmeans.

4. YIn combination in a textile machine: a spindle for supporting a yarncarrier, a drive shaft, power conveying means for drivinglyinterconnecting saiddrive shaft and said spindle for conveying drivingpower to said spindle, said power conveying means including a gearsubstantially coaxial with and normally freely rotatable about saiddrive shaft, an annular clutch member surrounding said drive shaft androtatably connected thereto, said clutch member being axiallydisplaceable relative to said drive shaft and that end face of saidclutch member which is ad-` jacent to said gear being provided withcoupling teeth, said gear Ibeing provided with complementary couplingteeth for engagement with the coupling teeth of said clutch member, afirst friction member rotatably connected to the inner surface of saidannular clutch member, said friction member having a substantiallycylindrical inner friction surface coaxial with said dn've shaft, asecond friction member connected to said gear and having a cylindricalouter friction surface for frictional engagement with the inner frictionsurface of said annular clutch member, said second friction member andsaid rst friction member normally being offset to each other in axial`direction of said drive shaft, the coupling teeth of said clutch membernormally being spaced from the complementary coupling teeth of said gearby a distance considerably greater than the normal spacing in axialdirectionbetween said first and second friction mem-` bers whereby saidfrictionmembers must frictionally er1-l gage each other prior; to theengagement of said coupling teeth of said clutch member with thecomplementary` coupling teeth of said gear.

, 5. `In combination in `a spindle driving mechanism for spinning andtwisting machines: a shaft-like rotatable driving member, a drivenmember arranged coaxially with said driving member for selective drivingconnection therewith, a first clutch element rotatably connected to saiddriving member and axially displaceable thereon, said first clutchelement being provided with coupling jaws, a second clutch elementsupported by said driven member and provided with recesses complementaryto said coupling jaws for selectively receiving the same to effect apositive coupling between said driving member and said driven member,one of said clutch elements being provided with an annular frictionalcoupling member having a cylindrical outer frictional surface, and theother one of said clutch elements being provided with an innercylindrical frictional surface for frictional engagement 'by saidannular frictional coupling member, said clutch jaws and complementaryclutch recesses and said frictional coupling element and cooperatingfrictional surface being oifset with regard to each other in the axialdirection of said driving member so that said frictional coupling memberand the cylindrical cooperating frictional surface are normally spacedfrom each other by a distance considerably less than the distancebetween said clutch jaws and the cooperating clutch recesses to therebypositively cause frictional engagement between said frictional couplingelement and the cooperating frictional cylindrical surface prior to theengagement of said coupling recesses 'by said coupling jaws when saidlirst clutch element is being moved toward said second clutch element.

6. In combination in a spindle driving mechanism for spinning andtwisting machines: a spindle for supporting a yarn carrier, said spindlebeing provided with a driving thread, a drive shaft, a gear coaxial withsaid drive shaft and meshing with said driving thread, said gear beingpositively engaging said first clutch element and also being equippedwith a cylindricalfrictionalinner surface for ttrictional engagementwith said outer cylindrical frictional surfacehedis'tance Ibetween saidfrictionalcoupling member and said frictional inner surface in axialdirection of said drives` vshaft normally being considerably less thanthe distance 'betweensaid first and secondclutch elements in axialdirection of said drive shaft whereby said clutch elements can bepositively engaged with each other only after preceding frictionaIengagement of said fritional inner surface with said( frictional outersurface, control lever means for displacing said second clutch elementselectively toward or away from said rst clutch element, and'brakevmeans connected to said lever means for brakdsaid spindle'when saidsecondV clutch element is being withdrawn from said rst clutch element.

` 7. An arrangement according to 4claim 4, in which said first (frictionmember has sections of slightly different inner diameter nfor causingthe section with smallest inner diameter to snap behind said secondfriction member when the coupling teeth of said annular clutch memberpositively engage Vs aid complementary coupling teeth;

-"8. An arrangement according to claim 5,which includes a sleeverotatably connected to said driving member and carryingas an entiretysaid driven member, said second clutch element, and said frictionalcoupling member.

9. VVIn combination in a spindle driving mechanism for spinning and:twisting machines: a rotatable driving memlbena `driven member arrangedcoaxially with said'driving member for selective driving connectiontherewith, a first clutch element rotatably connected to said drivingmein- 4ber and provided with coupling jaws, a second clutch elementsupported by said driven member and provided with recesses correspondingto Vsaid coupling jaws for selecy or away from each other forrespectively effecting Ao r interruptng coupling engagement Vof said'clutch elements, one of 'said clutch elements being provided'with anVannu-V lar frictional coupling kmember having a cylindrical outerfrictional surface and ythe other one of said clutch elements beingprovided with an inner cylindrical frictional surface Afor frictionalrengagement '-by said annular'frictional coupling member, said clutchjaws and cooperating clutch recesses and said -frictional couplingmember and cooperating frictional surface being oiset with regard to'each other' -in axial direction of said driving member so thatV said'Vfrictional'` coupling member andthe cylindrical cooperating Africtionalvsurface are normally spaced :fromeach other by a distance considera-bly.less ythan -thegdis-f tance between said clutchjaws andthe cooperating'clutch recesses to thereby positively cause frictional engagementlbetween said frictional coupling member and-"the"` cooperatingfrictional cylindrical surface prior to the engagement `of said couplingrecessesby said couplingljawsf when said clutch elements are being movedrelative toward each other;

Oct. 26, `19.354

